Convalecent Attire

[Elaine Kessinger]

While a group of us were researching and preparing for an upcoming hospital impression, the idea of "hospital gowns" was raised. I've seen a hospital gown on display at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, attributed to a Federal army hospital. I've heard of the Commissions requesting and giving directions for making "hospital shirts", but again.. distribution would have been to Federal army hospitals. The sticking point is we're portraying a Confederate army hospital.. or rather a church far removed from any battles that has been converted to a hospital for the duration of the war.
My question to this group is: Have any of you come across documentation for a "hospital gown" or such article with Confederate provenance? If none can be found I'll advise them to go for dressing gowns, smoking jackets, and uniform pieces combos.

[Emmanuel Dabney]

Re: Convalecent Attire

I cannot seem to find any results for "hospital shirt" using the search engine on the Richmond Daily Dispatch website (http://dlxs.richmond.edu/d/ddr/)

On Vicki Betts' site I found the Ladies Military Aid Association of Adams County [Mississippi], between June and September 1861 made "350 Hospital Garments." See (NATCHEZ DAILY COURIER, September 20, 1861, p. 1, c. 1, http://www.uttyler.edu/vbetts/natchez_courier.htm).

An appeal to the ladies of Adams County, MS was issued in December 1861 which called for "Cotton Bed Shirts" (see NATCHEZ DAILY COURIER, December 24, 1861, p. 1, c. 2, http://www.uttyler.edu/vbetts/natchez_courier.htm).

The Confederate Surgeon General, Samuel P. Moore appealed in autumn 1861 for hospital shirts. (see
WEEKLY MISSISSIPPIAN [JACKSON, MS], September 4, 1861, p. 1, c. 4, http://www.uttyler.edu/vbetts/mississippian.htm)

You might try to e-mail Vicki as there is a summary she provides for the SOUTHERN WATCHMAN [ATHENS, GA], September 18, 1861, p. 3, c. 1 in which dimensions for hospital shirts were given. Her note does state the left edge is missing from the microfilm she worked with so the dimensions may be there (and not transcribed) or may just not be there at all.

The Ladies Military Society sent hospital shirts to Missouri (see AMERICAN CITIZEN [CANTON, MS], December 14, 1861, p. 1, c. 2, http://www.uttyler.edu/vbetts/american_citizen.htm).

Thus in my searching I found them (as you can see) only mentioned in 1861. There seem to be shirts sent to hospitals but it is hard to know if they are hospital shirts OR men's shirts.

[col90]

Re: Convalecent Attire

IN addition to the things that Em posted..you might want to contact the Museum of the Confederacy...they really are very helpful concerning objects in their collection.

Colleen Formby

[Emmanuel Dabney]

Re: Convalecent Attire

Yes and they have finding aids online relevant for your research: http://www.moc.org/site/DocServer/Mi....pdf?docID=841

There are some supply inventories (Smithfield, Virginia) and invoices of supplies for a couple of hospitals (Richmond).

[Elaine Kessinger]

Re: Convalecent Attire

Em & Colleen- Thanks! This was just the un-block key my brain needed!

[MDec]

Re: Convalecent Attire

Here's a reference to hospital bed shirts.

SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY [ATLANTA, GA], August 14, 1861, p. 2, c. 5
Augusta, Geo., Aug. 12, 1861.
To the Public:
Under an appointment made by our fellow citizens, we have been sometime acting in the management of a Hospital Fund, which has been raised, and is being raised in our State, and applied for the benefit of the sick and wounded of the Georgia forces in the field.--this has been called the "Georgia Soldiers' Hospital Fund," . . .
We append a list of the articles, arranged in the order which (if the subscription should be in such things) will be found most useful:
Sheets, pillows and pillow cases, handkerchiefs, hose, jackets, drawers, socks, shirts, towels, blankets, coverlets, tea, coffee, arrow root, rice, sugar, corn starch, isinglass, lime juice, medicines of all kinds, bandages, wines, brandies, licorice, rose water and flax seed.--Shirts.--Two breadths of unbleached cotton, 1 1/4 yards long, 1 yard wide, open at bottom 1/2 yard; sleeve, length 3/4 yard; armhole, length 12 inches; length of collar 20 inches; length of slit in front 28 inches; a piece 4 inches wide lapping under, fastened with 4 ties; short bed gowns, as shirts only, only 1 yard long and open in front. Cotton drawers, 1 1/4 yards long, with breadth of 1 yard in each leg, with hem and draw string around each leg and the waist; length of waist to crotch 12 inches on the back, front 11 inches, with 3 buttons and button holes.

Hope this helps,
Michael Dec